NOAA Sea to Sky: Education resource database

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Welcome to our searchable database of education resources created by NOAA and our partners. If you have issues or feedback, please let us know by filling out our feedback form offsite link or sending us an email at education@noaa.gov.

Tips for using the database

Searching for terms that contain more than one word.

Use quotation marks around multiple-word phrases you want to search. For example, searching “climate change” will return resources about “climate change.” If you don’t include quotation marks, it will return resources that include either the word “climate” or “change.” 

Opening resources in a new tab.

 Follow the instructions below for the device you are using.

  • PC: Hold down the control (ctrl) key while clicking the link. Or, right-click the link and select “open in new tab.”
  • Mac: Hold down the command key while clicking the link.
  • iPhone or iPad: Press and hold the link. Select “open in new tab” from the pop-up menu.
  • Android device: Press and hold the link. Select “open in new tab” from the pop-up menu

Expanding categories.

Each category has a plus sign (+) to expand the available filters within the category. Some categories have subcategories. Look for the plus sign (+) to see more filterable items.

Making the most of the filterable categories.

There are several categories you can use to filter through the resources. 

  • “Audience” filters by grade level, including postsecondary education, and also has a filter option for adult learners.
  • “Subject” filters by the general subject area, such as Arts, Earth science, Math, and more.
  • “Resource Type” filters allow you to look for resources ranging from activities, lessons, and units to videos or background information.
  • “Topic” filters are more specific than subject. They include filters such as climate, freshwater, and weather and atmosphere.
  • “NGSS DCI” filters by Next Generation Science Standards Disciplinary Core Ideas. Only activities, lessons, and units (and no other resource types) have NGSS DCI associated with them. Not all activities, lessons, and units have this alignment.
  • “Special categories” offers additional filters for specific types of resources and topics, such as printables, resources available in other languages, and safety/preparedness.

Exploring activities, lessons, and units.

Activities, lessons, and units are bundled together under resource type. You can expand to filter for only one type. Activity/demonstration refers to straightforward activities with little or no classroom strategy or pedagogy. Lesson refers to structured activities that are intended for a classroom audience. Module/unit refers to a collection of lessons that can build upon each other over multiple class periods or times of instruction; some people might call this a curriculum. 

Understanding instructional strategies.

Within special categories, there is an expandable filter called “instructional strategies.” This includes special filters that are applicable for some lessons, activities, and units, including things like “outdoor education” and “uses data.”

 

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 3-5

Subject

Social studies
Humanities/liberal arts
Earth science
Life science
Physical science

Resource type

Story map
Multimedia

Topic

Freshwater
Invasive species
Rivers
Watersheds, flooding, and pollution
Great Lakes ecoregion

A story map shows the benefits of habitat restoration in the Great Lakes, which benefits people and fish. Learn about threats to the Great Lakes basin, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, how we determine what to restore, and two restoration case studies.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12
Grade 6-8

Subject

Life science

Resource type

Podcast
Multimedia

Topic

Marine life
Sea turtles

Experts with very different backgrounds join forces to protect endangered sea turtles.

Audience

Grade 3-5
Grade 6-8
Grade 9-12
College+
Adults

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Marine life
Ecosystems
Coral reef ecosystems
Fish
Ocean exploration

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Research

The Mesophotic Zone, 30 to 150 meters beneath the ocean surface, is the furthest that sunlight can penetrate Only recently, with advancements in diving techniques and new technology, have we been able to study it in-depth.

Audience

Grade 3-5
Grade 6-8
Grade 9-12
College+
Adults

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Technology and engineering

Special categories

Cultural heritage
Region
Pacific Islands region
Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Exploration

Hundreds of years ago, Pacific Islanders used voyaging canoes to travel. They developed navigation techniques to steer across the ocean without instruments or charts. Modern science is just now beginning to understand and appreciate the traditional Marshallese navigation techniques.

Audience

Adults
College+
Grade 9-12

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Video
Multimedia

Topic

Weather and atmosphere
El Niño and La Niña

Special categories

Education at home
Instructional strategies

When the Pacific Ocean warms and cools with El Niño and La Niña, global temperatures rise and fall. Because there was a La Niña event in the early part of this year, the global surface temperature for 2012 won't break the high temperature record. However, the odds are that this will be the warmest of the La Niña years in the global climate record.

Audience

Grade 3-5
Grade 6-8
Grade 9-12
College+
Adults

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Marine life
Invertebrates

Collection name

Ocean Today

Why are horseshoe crabs remarkable? Watch this video to learn more about a creature whose ancestors roamed the earth over 450 million years ago.

Audience

Grade 3-5
Grade 6-8
Grade 9-12
College+
Adults

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Marine life
Invertebrates

Collection name

Ocean Today

Ocean Today host Symone Johnson introduces the Remarkable Horseshoe Crab video collection, which goes in depth on these amazing animals, their migration, and why they're important.

Audience

Grade 3-5
Grade 6-8
Grade 9-12
College+
Adults

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Climate
Technology and engineering
Cryosphere
Satellites
Ships and planes
Climate change impacts
Sea level rise

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Research

There are three main ways that scientists measure Arctic ice: satellites, aircraft, and on-site, or “in situ” measuring. It is these multiple observations that provide a more complete picture and story of the ice.

Audience

Grade 3-5
Grade 6-8
Grade 9-12
College+
Adults

Subject

Earth science

Resource type

Video

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Marine life
Climate
Climate change impacts
Cryosphere
Weather systems and patterns
Sea level rise
Endangered species

Special categories

Other languages
Spanish

Collection name

Ocean Today
Ocean Today: Research

As Arctic ice continues to melt, it will cause ripple effects across the planet. Here are some of the impacts.

Audience

Grade 6-8
Grade 9-12
College+

Subject

Earth science
Social studies

Resource type

Background information
Multimedia
Infographic
Poster/brochure

Topic

Ocean and coasts
Tsunamis

Special categories

Safety/preparedness

This downloadable poster has information on how and why tsunamis form, how they are studied, and how to find data on them.